Honorable Dan Huberty, Chair, House Committee on Public Education
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1291 by Geren (Relating to the inclusion of American principles in the public school curriculum and instructional materials.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Education Code to require the State Board of Education (SBOE) and each school district to ensure that the public school curriculum and instructional materials emphasize an understanding of the principles underlying the United States form of government and that each historical event addressed in the curriculum meets a reasonable standard of historical significance. The bill would take effect immediately if passed within the necessary voting margins, or on September 1, 2017, and would apply beginning in school year 2017-18. Provisions of the bill related to instructional materials adoption by the SBOE would take effect on or after September 1, 2018.
This analysis estimates the Texas Education Agency could absorb the costs related to reviewing and modifying the social studies Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) standards to ensure the elements required by the provisions of this bill.
Local Government Impact
School districts and charters would likely incur costs if the State Board of Education (SBOE) were to amend the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) to align with the provisions of the bills. Costs for school districts and charters to review their existing curriculum to ensure it meets the requirements of this legislation would vary from district to district. There may also be costs to local school districts to purchase or develop curriculum programs that meet the requirements of this legislation if the district does not already have that curriculum. If the TEKS are changed, school districts could be required to purchase new curriculum or instructional materials. Costs would vary among districts.